Meet Our Instructors
SARAH (aka KLEIO)
Studio Owner
Sarah is originally from Sheffield and began training in ballet, jazz and tap at the age of 3 at The Constance Grant Dance Centre. She moved to London in 2005 to attend The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where she graduated with a National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre in 2008.
Following this she furthered her dance training in Los Angeles where she trained extensively at The Millennium Dance Complex and Debbie Reynolds for the summers of 2009, 2010 and 2011. It was here that she fell in love with Hip Hop and first discovered Waacking.
In 2009 Sarah’s waacking persona ‘Kleio’ was born when she was invited to become an original member of’ The Waacktitioner’s, the first waacking crew in the UK. She had the opportunity to perform with them at some major events including; Serious About Street Dance (Indig02), Move It (Olympia), Live Vibe (Peacock Theatre), UK Hip Hop Championships, B Supreme (Southbank Centre) and Lovebox Festival to name a few. As ‘Kleio’ she also travelled all over the world to compete as a waacker and has won and reached the finals at various battle’s here on home soil and abroad.
Sarah also has a Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing and a Level 2 in Teaching Exercise, Movement and Dance to Adults and loves to combine her dance and fitness knowledge in lots of her classes. She is also proud to work as a professional choreographer for dance-fitness brand, Clubbercise.
Sarah absolutely loves to teach and currently teaches Hip Hop, Zumba, Commercial and Clubbercise here at Studio K. She has also developed a signature dance class ‘Kleiography’ which combines her love for commercial dance with her mission to get women feeling more fabulous and growing in confidence. You will get addicted to her incredibly contagious bubbly personality so come and check out one of her classes!
Sarah holds current First Aid and DBS certificates and is a member of REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals).
GINGER (R.A.D R.T.S)
As entertaining as she is inspiring on stage, screen and in the studio, Mademoiselle Ginger’s mission is to show that dance is a superpower.
An RAD-certified ballet teacher and a waacking specialist with the country’s longest-running weekly class, Ginger is known for her attention to detail, technique and skill, creative teaching methods and infectious energy. Students call her classes affirming, inspiring and life-changing.
Her dedication to teaching is matched only by her passion for performing. She’s a seasoned freestyler, competitor and battle judge with incomparable crowd appeal. Her showcases are showstopping, her choreo credits span musical theatre and conceptual online projects, and her style is always on point.
Now in her 30s, she’s turned her versatile skills – including flamboyant freestyle, stunts, voiceover and bilingualism – to film and stage for the likes of Disney and Jean-Paul Gaultier.
With decades of experience, trophies, qualifications and a consistent drive to level up, Mademoiselle Ginger is here for a good time and a long time
PAOLA
Originally from Italy, Paola started dancing when she was 6 years old. She started her training in Ballroom and Boogie Woogie / Rock’n’Roll styles; doing competitions all around Italy. At the age of 14, she decided to concentrate in Jazz and Ballet at the main Dance School in her home town, Bologna.
In her 20’s she moved to Rome to start her career as a professional dancer, where she worked for some of the best Italian Choreographers (such as Luca Tommassini, Mauro Mosconi, Manolo Casalino, Franco Miseria, Bill Goodson) and Italian celebrities ( the likes of Claudio Baglioni, Enrico Montesano, Luisa Corna, Gigi Sabani, Senit, amongst many others). Later Paola made the decision to further her career and expand her horizon by moving to London where she worked as a dancer for Gabrielle, Kayne West, Ashely Wallen, Hege Okstad and many more.
As a Choreographer, she has choreographed for corporate events, private parties, short films, TV shows and live concerts. Her main strength is her versatility and technical dancer/choreography skills. Areas of expertise include: Street Dance, Technical and lyrical Jazz, Latin & Salsa, House, 50’s style or Tap.
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KATY
Katy is a professional dancer and choreographer who graduated from LCPA in 2013.
Since graduating she has gone on to perform across various sectors of the industry as well as being a company member of renowned choreographer Lukas McFarlane’s contemporary dance company ‘Untitled.’
Some credits include; ‘Astoria’ Contemporary Dance Show, Cadence (3D tap dance project) with Pule Collective Tap Company, Gala for Grenfell (directed by Arlene Phillips), ‘Love Shack’ dance video, ‘Welcome to the Grand’ jazz show, ‘Sin and Salvation- A new musical’, West End Live Copacabana (featuring Gary Wilmot), and ‘The Treason Show’ Brighton Fringe.
Katy is currently focusing on her choreography career and has been fortunate enough to choreograph a new musical ‘Gretel’ at The Other Palace, London. She has also choreographed for ‘Scar’, a music video by ‘Searls’.
Katy also currently teaches contemporary at Leicester College of Performing Arts and ASA theatre arts and is looking forward to teaching here at Studio K.
MARY
Mary (or Maria) is 34 and has a wealth of experience and has been teaching dance since the age of 18. She has worked in schools, theatres and film and gives dance masterclasses Internationally. She is a resident teacher and adjudicator for the Israeli competition circuit. In her home town of Kherson in Ukraine she owned her own dance studio with over 80 students that would perform and compete regularly. She is very happy to be the newest addition to the team here at Studio K.
RACHEL
Rachel Laird originally from Scotland started dancing at the age of 3. It has always been a passion of hers and very quickly became a focus for her profession. With a background in musical theatre and ballet Rachel discovered contemporary dance at 14 through YDance Scotland and joined the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland for five years touring nationally and internationally which included; India for Dance Bridges Festival, Belgium for an exchange with Retina Dance Company and Sadler’s Wells mainstage for Apex Rising. Following this she studied for a year at Scottish School of Contemporary Dance before moving to London to complete a BA (HONS) at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and subsequently a Post Graduate Diploma at Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School.
Since graduating Rachel has performed in English National Opera’s Production “Orphee”, The Natashas Project (A dance theatre company that make work focussing on human trafficking and modern-day slavery), A Truefitt Collective and Roisin O’Brien. Choreographically Rachel and fellow Scot Clara Cowen co-founded Sliding Doors, a dance theatre company that creates work that in some way celebrates the chances in life. Dramatising strings of events that led us to where we are now whilst knowing that the outcome could have been somewhat different and learning to embrace that. Sliding Doors had their debut at Heads Up, Dance Base as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019 and a show at Rising Tides;01 at the Rosemary Branch Theatre in London. In 2020 SD will be performing an extended version of “Penthouse Hickies” at Resolutions Festival 2020, The Place Theatre, London.
Rachel is currently teaching our online Stretch & Relax class on a Monday evening.
Rachel holds a Safeguarding Children Level 1 Certificate and Enhanced DBS.
EMMANUELLA
Emmanuella was born in London and started dancing at the age of 7. In 2018 she graduated from Kingston university with a 1st class BA honours in dance. Throughout the years she has trained with several Uk companies including; Avant Garde Dance, Myself UK Dance, Boy blue entertainment, The Movement Factory and Zoonation Academy of Dance. Emmanuella has trained in many different styles including but not limited to street dance, contemporary, freestyle, contact improvisation, abstract and commercial. Emmanuella would say that her strongest style both as a performer and teacher is hip hop and she takes pride in having taught both inside and outside of London. Her aim whilst teaching at Studio K is to inspire the next generation and make all students comfortable freestylers as she believes it is important for students to come out of their comfort zone and feel comfortable exploring their bodies with movement. Emmanuella’s credits include working internationally in Dubai at Global Village, Mitch “win” music video, Bloomsbury Festival, Dance Umbrella, The Queens House- Docklands International, Tkay “carry on” music video and many more.
CONOR
Conor started dancing at the age of 15 where he studied Street Dance, Break Dance, Popping, Commercial, Acrobatics as well as other street dance styles under the leadership of The Urban Dance School.
Conor trained at Bishop Wand and St.Pauls school in Sunbury and where he then got invited to train and perform with Sakoba Dance Company for a year, which trained him in African Contemporary. During the time at college Conor started to teach classes and work for other companies including performances across a multitude of theatres and stages including, Wembley Arena, Twickenham Stadium, Hammersmith Apollo. He has also appeared on TV and Music Videos, performing live on Sky Sports and being a dancer for Dee Lush, Ash King, Jonita Gandhi and Conor Maynard.
In 2014 Conor was invited to train with Ombrascura Dance company where he continues his training and exploration of movement. While working with Ombrascura Dance he has performed at Move It Capezio stage as a guest act, travelled to Luxembourg and gained credits such as ASDA, Jack Jones and Sky Sports.
HOLLY
Holly is a fun, dynamic and passionate teacher with a very experienced background in all styles of dance.
Holly trained at Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts in Musical Theatre, graduating in 2017.
Some of her credits over the years include working for Warner Leisure Hotel (Dance Captain & Ensemble), SOCCER AID, X Factor (RAKSU), X Factor with Little Mix & Brit Awards , Cinderella Pantomime, Radio 1 Big Weekend, as well as lots of corporate events across London and a short period of time working in Greece for a european hotel company.
Holly has also had the opportunity to choreograph for companies such as Warner Leisure, and other European Hotel companies as well as being an assistant choreographer on many more jobs.